(WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage has commissioned perhaps the world’s first Zoom Purim Spiel, written by playwright Jenny Lyn Bader. Luna is thrilled to make this play available for performance by any and all who want to celebrate Purim in this time of social distancing. The Whole Megillah: A Purim Spiel for Grown Ups features juicy roles for eight actors and a fun party atmosphere for audiences.

Purim spiels, or Purim plays, are traditionally performed as part of the Jewish holiday, Purim, which celebrates the saving of the Jews from Haman as recounted in the Book of Esther. These plays, often informal and comedic in nature, have been performed as part of Jewish tradition since the early 1500’s.

As many communities explore how we remain connected and creative in the virtual space, Luna Stage Artistic Director Ari Laura Kreith began to explore how to create a Zoom Purim experience for adults isolated from their congregations. Initially, her focus was on local Montclair synagogue B’nai Keshet, where she is a member, but she quickly realized that other community organizations (both Jewish and not) might enjoy having access to this experience as well.

Playwright Bader, whose drama Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library had its world premiere at Luna Stage last year, was tapped to create this irreverent, rollicking romp through Jewish lore. The play is available for free download and performance by all who wish to experience the piece. 

The holiday of Purim takes place Thursday, February 25 to Friday, February 26. For more information or to request the script for The Whole Megillah: A Purim Spiel for Grown Ups please contact purim@lunastage.org. 

About the Playwright

Jenny Lyn Bader is thrilled to be back at Luna Stage, which premiered her drama Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library and her short play My First Time (commissioned for Voting Writes). Her other plays include Equally Divine (Theatre at the 14th St. Y), In Flight (Turn to Flesh Productions), and None of the Above (New Georges). One-acts include Worldness (Humana Festival), and Miss America (NY Int’l Fringe Festival/“Best of the Fringe selection). Honors include “Best Documentary One-Woman Show” Award (United Solo); Athena Playwriting Fellowship; and Edith Oliver Award (O’Neill Center).  Her plays have been published by Dramatists Play Service, Vintage, Smith & Kraus, Applause, and Plays International + Europe magazine. For This Is Not a Theatre Company, she co-authored Café Play and Play in Your Bathtub and wrote The International Local ("Subway Plays") and Guru of Touch (Edinburgh Festival Fringe). A Harvard graduate, she has been a Lark Playwriting Fellow (nominated by Wendy Wasserstein) and a frequent contributor to the New York Times "Week in Review." She is a member of the Playwrights Gallery and The Dramatists Guild.  

About Luna Stage

Luna Stage develops and produces vibrant plays about local and global experiences. Firmly rooted in New Jersey's Valley Arts District — a crossroads of cultures — Luna brings its communities together for artistic events that spark conversations and create understanding and change.

The recipient of the 2019 People’s Choice Award for NJ’s Favorite Small Theatre, Luna offers classes for children and adults, opportunities for early-career and established theatre artists to develop new work, as well as professional MainStage productions.